US10647587B2 - Process for the ammonia production - Google Patents
Process for the ammonia production Download PDFInfo
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- US10647587B2 US10647587B2 US15/552,054 US201615552054A US10647587B2 US 10647587 B2 US10647587 B2 US 10647587B2 US 201615552054 A US201615552054 A US 201615552054A US 10647587 B2 US10647587 B2 US 10647587B2
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- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonia Chemical compound N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 57
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 33
- 229910021529 ammonia Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 48
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 48
- 238000002407 reforming Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 42
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 57
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 20
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 230000003197 catalytic effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 4
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000006555 catalytic reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010420 art technique Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003517 fume Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009776 industrial production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011070 membrane recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008929 regeneration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011069 regeneration method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002195 synergetic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01C—AMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
- C01C1/00—Ammonia; Compounds thereof
- C01C1/02—Preparation, purification or separation of ammonia
- C01C1/04—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase
- C01C1/0405—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase from N2 and H2 in presence of a catalyst
- C01C1/0417—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase from N2 and H2 in presence of a catalyst characterised by the synthesis reactor, e.g. arrangement of catalyst beds and heat exchangers in the reactor
- C01C1/0441—Reactors with the catalyst arranged in tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
- B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
- B01J8/06—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds in tube reactors; the solid particles being arranged in tubes
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
- C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
- C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
- C01B3/025—Preparation or purification of gas mixtures for ammonia synthesis
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01C—AMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
- C01C1/00—Ammonia; Compounds thereof
- C01C1/02—Preparation, purification or separation of ammonia
- C01C1/04—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01C—AMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
- C01C1/00—Ammonia; Compounds thereof
- C01C1/02—Preparation, purification or separation of ammonia
- C01C1/04—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase
- C01C1/0405—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase from N2 and H2 in presence of a catalyst
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01C—AMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF
- C01C1/00—Ammonia; Compounds thereof
- C01C1/02—Preparation, purification or separation of ammonia
- C01C1/04—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase
- C01C1/0405—Preparation of ammonia by synthesis in the gas phase from N2 and H2 in presence of a catalyst
- C01C1/0476—Purge gas treatment, e.g. for removal of inert gases or recovery of H2
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
- C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
- B01J2208/02—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor with stationary particles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
- B01J2208/06—Details of tube reactors containing solid particles
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0205—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step
- C01B2203/0227—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step
- C01B2203/0233—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step the reforming step being a steam reforming step
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0205—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step
- C01B2203/0227—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step
- C01B2203/0244—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a reforming step containing a catalytic reforming step the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0405—Purification by membrane separation
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0415—Purification by absorption in liquids
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
- C01B2203/0495—Composition of the impurity the impurity being water
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/06—Integration with other chemical processes
- C01B2203/068—Ammonia synthesis
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/14—Details of the flowsheet
- C01B2203/142—At least two reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/80—Aspect of integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas not covered by groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/1695
- C01B2203/84—Energy production
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/50—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
- Y02P20/52—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a process for the ammonia production by catalytic reaction of a make-up synthesis gas which is produced by reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock.
- ammonia involves the catalytic reaction of a synthesis gas (“make-up gas”) comprising hydrogen and nitrogen inside a high-pressure (HP) synthesis loop operating usually at about 80-300 bar.
- a synthesis gas (“make-up gas”) comprising hydrogen and nitrogen inside a high-pressure (HP) synthesis loop operating usually at about 80-300 bar.
- HP high-pressure
- the make-up gas is produced in a frontend section, upstream the HP synthesis loop, by reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock.
- the synthesis of ammonia from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprises basically: primary reforming with steam; secondary reforming with an oxidant, obtaining a raw gas product; purification of said raw gas product, obtaining a make-up synthesis gas; conversion of said make-up synthesis gas into ammonia in a high-pressure synthesis loop.
- Purification may include shift conversion of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, removal of carbon dioxide and optionally methanation.
- the purified synthesis gas is compressed in a multi-stage gas compressor to feed the synthesis loop. Said gas compressor is normally driven directly by a steam turbine.
- Said step of primary reforming is carried out in a bundle of externally heated tubes filled with a catalyst (catalytic tubes).
- An alternative prior art technique to keep a relatively low temperature of the tubes, without the need of oxygen or air enrichment, is carrying out an air-fired secondary reforming with a significant excess of air compared to the theoretical stoichiometric amount.
- the theoretical stoichiometric amount of air is the amount of air which is required to obtain a H 2 to N 2 molar ratio of 3 in the purified make-up gas which is sent to ammonia synthesis.
- a drawback of this technique is the introduction of a large quantity of nitrogen in the front-end. This causes a large flow rate which requires larger and more expensive piping.
- the main syngas compressor and its driving turbine may become a bottleneck of the plant when dealing with a very large capacity, e.g. more than 3,000 MTD (metric tons per day).
- the gas compressor would be required to process a relevant flow rate and produce a large compression ratio.
- the large steam flow through said turbine in order to drive the compressor, would require a large rotor diameter unable to reach the elevated speed (e.g. 10,000 rpm) required by the compressor, mainly due to limitations dictated by the excessive tip speed of the blades of low-pressure stages of the turbine. It follows that the maximum capacity of the ammonia plant, in terms of ammonia that can be synthesized, is substantially limited by the capacity of the synthesis gas compressor-turbine assembly.
- EP 2 316 792 discloses the recovery of hydrogen from said purge stream and use of the recovered hydrogen to balance the excess of nitrogen.
- the required amount of hydrogen is large which implies the use of expensive separation techniques such as cryogenic, TSA or PSA.
- the aim of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art.
- said primary reforming is performed at a temperature of at least 790° C. and pressure of at least 50 bar; said step of secondary reforming is carried out substantially in absence of excess air compared to the stoichiometric amount of air, and said make-up synthesis gas has a H 2 to N 2 molar ratio in the range 2.5 to 3.
- the above mentioned temperature of at least 790° C. is greater than 800° C.
- said H 2 to N 2 molar ratio is in the range 2.6 to 2.8.
- the stoichiometric amount of air is understood as the amount which is necessary to achieve H 2 to N 2 molar ratio of 3 in the make-up gas admitted to the synthesis loop, i.e. it depends substantially on the amount of hydrogen H 2 of said make-up gas.
- the substantially absence of excess air shall be understood as an amount of air which results in the H 2 to N 2 molar ratio being 2.5 or greater.
- the conversion of make-up synthesis gas into ammonia is carried out at a loop pressure which is 2 to 3.5 times the pressure of the process gas at the exit of the primary reforming catalytic tubes.
- Said loop pressure is understood as the delivery pressure of a circulator of the loop. More preferably loop pressure is in the range 100 to 200 bar, and even more preferably 120 to 150 bar.
- An aspect of the invention is to increase primary reforming temperature and pressure while using no excess air compared to the stoichiometric amount.
- Air admitted to the secondary reforming is substantially in the stoichiometric amount or in a small excess and, as a consequence, the H 2 to N 2 molar ratio is equal to or slightly less than 3.
- the process does not require excess air, or O 2 -enriched air.
- the catalytic tubes of the primary reforming are made of an alloy chosen among the following:
- HP alloys HP mod alloys, HP mod Microalloy, HP Nb Microalloy, HP microalloy, HK microalloy (ASTM A-608 and ASTM A-297 classification).
- the above materials are suitable to operate at the elevated pressure and temperature of the invention.
- the process of the invention includes extraction from said loop of a purge stream, separation of a hydrogen-containing stream from said purge stream and addition of said hydrogen-containing stream to said make-up gas in order to adjust said H 2 to N 2 ratio.
- said hydrogen-containing stream is used to adjust said ratio to a value equal or closer to 3.
- An advantage of the invention is that less hydrogen is required to adjust the H 2 to N 2 ratio, due to the ratio being close to 3, and therefore less expensive techniques for separation of hydrogen can be used, for example a membrane hydrogen recovery unit.
- the applicant has surprisingly found that, even if H 2 and N 2 recovery rates of a membrane recovery unit are lower than a cryogenic recovery unit, due to the high pressure of the permeate, the process performances are still attractive.
- the synthesis loop includes a circulation compressor (also named circulator).
- a circulation compressor also named circulator
- the delivery of the main gas compressor is sent to the suction side of said circulation compressor of the loop.
- the synthesis gas is subjected to a drying treatment by means of ammonia washing, before the compression in the main compressor or between two stages of compression.
- the main advantage of the invention is the reduced duty of the main syngas compressor.
- the power absorbed by the compressor, for a given capacity, is reduced accordingly.
- the invention allows reaching a large capacity, for example more than 3,000 MTD without exceeding the above mentioned limits of the steam turbine coupled to the syngas compressor, i.e. keeping the direct drive between the syngas compressor and the turbine.
- the invention allows reaching a capacity of 4,000 MTD.
- the air compressor (instead of the syngas compressor) becomes the largest power user. Accordingly, the highest pressure available steam is used to drive the steam turbine coupled to said air compressor; steam discharged by, or extracted from, said turbine is preferably used for the primary reforming.
- the speed of the air compressor (revolutions per minute) is lower than that of the syngas compressor: hence there is no limitation to the size of the steam turbine coupled with the air compressor.
- Another embodiment of the invention is to expand more steam than required by the process air compressor in said steam turbine. Accordingly, the turbine coupled to the air compressor may also drive a generator to produce electric power.
- the reforming process including the primary reforming and air-fired secondary reforming, is operated with a global steam-to-carbon ratio equal to or greater than 2.9.
- the global steam-to-carbon ratio denotes the overall ratio of steam and carbon admitted to the reforming process.
- Such relatively high steam-to-carbon ratio is beneficial to the conversion of the feedstock and subsequent shift of carbon monoxide. It is also synergistic with the elevated pressure of the primary reforming, namely at least 50 bar.
- the increased amount of steam implies that more heat is recoverable from the reforming process at a high temperature, and can be made available for a further use internally the front-end, for example for regeneration of a solution for CO2 absorption.
- the energy efficiency of the front-end is improved, reducing e.g. the need of heat input.
- An aspect of the invention is also a plant suitable to carry out the above described process.
- an aspect of the invention is a plant for the synthesis of ammonia wherein the primary reforming section includes a tube reformer with tubes filled of catalyst, and said tubes are made of
- FIG. 1 is a scheme of a plant for the synthesis of ammonia according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a block scheme of a plant 1 for the synthesis of ammonia comprising a front-end section 2 and an ammonia synthesis loop 3 .
- the front-end 2 produces a make-up synthesis gas 21 which is compressed in a gas compressor 9 and is fed to the to the ammonia synthesis loop 3 .
- the front-end section 2 comprises: a primary reformer 4 ; a secondary reformer 5 ; an air compressor 6 ; a purification section 7 ; a gas drying unit 8 .
- the air compressor 6 and the synthesis gas main compressor 9 are directly driven by respective steam turbines 10 and 11 .
- the air compressor 6 is preferably of the integrally geared type.
- the loop 3 comprises a block 12 comprising at least one catalytic reactor, a gas cooler and a liquid separator to produce liquid ammonia 23 .
- Unreacted gas 24 is re-circulated in the loop 3 by a further compressor 14 , also referred to as circulator.
- a hydrocarbon feedstock 15 such as natural gas, and steam 16 catalytically react in the primary reformer 4 at a temperature of at least 790° C. and a pressure of at least 50 bar.
- the partially reformed gas 17 leaving the primary reformer 1 further reacts in the secondary reformer 5 with the aid of an air supply 18 delivered by the air compressor 6 .
- the turbine 10 driving the air compressor 6 is powered by a high pressure steam 30 which is preferably generated in the ammonia plant 1 , e.g. by recovering heat from exhaust fumes of the convective section of the primary reformer.
- the steam 16 for the primary reforming is extracted from said turbine 10 .
- the amount of steam 30 exceeds the amount which is necessary to power the compressor 6 .
- the turbine 10 may be coupled also to a generator, to produce electric power.
- the fully reformed gas 19 leaving the secondary reformer 5 is treated in the purification section 7 , for example by shift conversion, removal of carbon dioxide and methanation, resulting in a purified synthesis gas 20 .
- Said gas 20 is further sent to the drying unit 8 for the removal of water contained therein, obtaining a substantially anhydrous stream 21 .
- Said drying unit 8 is preferably an ammonia washing unit.
- Said stream 21 has a hydrogen/nitrogen molar ratio of 2.5 to 3 according to the invention.
- Said stream 21 is sent to the suction side of the synthesis gas main compressor 9 and the resulting high-pressure synthesis gas 22 is preferably fed to the circulator 14 , as shown.
- a purge stream 27 containing unreacted hydrogen and nitrogen and inert gases is extracted from the loop 3 , for example form the delivery stream 26 of the circulator 14 .
- Said purge stream 27 is sent to a hydrogen recovery unit 13 to separate a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream 25 , which is returned to the suction of circulator 14 , where it is mixed with the stream 24 .
- This hydrogen-rich gaseous stream 25 serves to adjust the H 2 to N 2 ratio, in particular when the ratio of streams 21 and 22 (as produced by the front-end 2 ) is lower than 3.
- By adding hydrogen separated from the purge stream 27 said ratio is adjusted to 3, or close to 3, as required for the synthesis of ammonia.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
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- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP15156001.8 | 2015-02-20 | ||
EP15156001.8A EP3059210A1 (en) | 2015-02-20 | 2015-02-20 | Process for the ammonia production |
EP15156001 | 2015-02-20 | ||
PCT/EP2016/051658 WO2016131623A1 (en) | 2015-02-20 | 2016-01-27 | Process for the ammonia production |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/EP2016/051658 A-371-Of-International WO2016131623A1 (en) | 2015-02-20 | 2016-01-27 | Process for the ammonia production |
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US16/539,664 Division US20190367379A1 (en) | 2015-02-20 | 2019-08-13 | Process for the ammonia production |
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US20180044192A1 US20180044192A1 (en) | 2018-02-15 |
US10647587B2 true US10647587B2 (en) | 2020-05-12 |
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US16/539,664 Abandoned US20190367379A1 (en) | 2015-02-20 | 2019-08-13 | Process for the ammonia production |
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US (2) | US10647587B2 (pt) |
EP (2) | EP3059210A1 (pt) |
CN (1) | CN107257776B (pt) |
AU (1) | AU2016222007B2 (pt) |
BR (1) | BR112017017796A2 (pt) |
CA (1) | CA2977239C (pt) |
CL (1) | CL2017002119A1 (pt) |
MX (1) | MX2017010500A (pt) |
MY (1) | MY185718A (pt) |
RU (1) | RU2706059C2 (pt) |
SA (1) | SA517382134B1 (pt) |
UA (1) | UA119810C2 (pt) |
WO (1) | WO2016131623A1 (pt) |
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WO2022207386A1 (en) * | 2021-03-30 | 2022-10-06 | Casale Sa | Process for ammonia synthesis using green hydrogen |
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US20180230009A1 (en) * | 2017-02-15 | 2018-08-16 | Kwamina BEDU-AMISSAH | Steam methane reformer tube outlet assembly |
IT201800000620A1 (it) | 2018-01-08 | 2019-07-08 | Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie Srl | Impianto di produzione di ammoniaca |
WO2019233656A1 (en) * | 2018-06-08 | 2019-12-12 | Casale Sa | Process for methanol production |
EP3623343A1 (en) * | 2018-09-11 | 2020-03-18 | Casale Sa | Process for the synthesis of ammonia |
PE20230900A1 (es) * | 2020-10-30 | 2023-06-01 | Casale Sa | Control de un circuito de sintesis de amoniaco a carga parcial |
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JP5552284B2 (ja) * | 2009-09-14 | 2014-07-16 | 信越化学工業株式会社 | 多結晶シリコン製造システム、多結晶シリコン製造装置および多結晶シリコンの製造方法 |
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2015
- 2015-02-20 EP EP15156001.8A patent/EP3059210A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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2016
- 2016-01-27 US US15/552,054 patent/US10647587B2/en active Active
- 2016-01-27 RU RU2017132708A patent/RU2706059C2/ru active
- 2016-01-27 MY MYPI2017702887A patent/MY185718A/en unknown
- 2016-01-27 CA CA2977239A patent/CA2977239C/en active Active
- 2016-01-27 WO PCT/EP2016/051658 patent/WO2016131623A1/en active Application Filing
- 2016-01-27 BR BR112017017796-0A patent/BR112017017796A2/pt active Search and Examination
- 2016-01-27 UA UAA201709128A patent/UA119810C2/uk unknown
- 2016-01-27 AU AU2016222007A patent/AU2016222007B2/en active Active
- 2016-01-27 CN CN201680011307.9A patent/CN107257776B/zh active Active
- 2016-01-27 EP EP16701768.0A patent/EP3259233B1/en active Active
- 2016-01-27 MX MX2017010500A patent/MX2017010500A/es unknown
-
2017
- 2017-08-15 SA SA517382134A patent/SA517382134B1/ar unknown
- 2017-08-18 CL CL2017002119A patent/CL2017002119A1/es unknown
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2019
- 2019-08-13 US US16/539,664 patent/US20190367379A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3259233A1 (en) | 2017-12-27 |
WO2016131623A1 (en) | 2016-08-25 |
RU2706059C2 (ru) | 2019-11-13 |
RU2017132708A3 (pt) | 2019-03-20 |
EP3259233B1 (en) | 2019-01-23 |
MY185718A (en) | 2021-05-31 |
AU2016222007B2 (en) | 2020-03-26 |
SA517382134B1 (ar) | 2021-12-08 |
US20190367379A1 (en) | 2019-12-05 |
UA119810C2 (uk) | 2019-08-12 |
CA2977239C (en) | 2022-07-19 |
AU2016222007A1 (en) | 2017-09-07 |
CA2977239A1 (en) | 2016-08-25 |
BR112017017796A2 (pt) | 2018-04-10 |
EP3059210A1 (en) | 2016-08-24 |
CN107257776A (zh) | 2017-10-17 |
RU2017132708A (ru) | 2019-03-20 |
MX2017010500A (es) | 2017-11-28 |
CL2017002119A1 (es) | 2018-03-16 |
CN107257776B (zh) | 2021-02-02 |
US20180044192A1 (en) | 2018-02-15 |
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